Independent engineer & technical partner

Deliver sooner.
Make your engineering budget go further.

I'm Adrian Topala, a hands-on senior engineer and tech lead. I help teams build AI-enabled applications, modernise critical platforms, and deliver reliable software—with clear priorities and fewer costly detours.

20+ years of engineering · Munich, Germany
Available for select freelance engagements

Trusted by

Siemens Techpilot EDEKA Hyundai Brainloop Boskalis

Resolve uncertainty early.

Through focused technical workshops, I help your team clarify requirements, expose constraints, and test assumptions before they become expensive implementation changes.

Make decisions that move delivery forward.

I draw on 20+ years across projects, teams, and industries to recognise likely pitfalls and narrow the options. Decisions and tradeoffs stay transparent, so everyone understands the approach and why it fits.

Get further with each iteration.

I combine hands-on engineering with AI-assisted implementation and testing to shorten feedback cycles. Each iteration should resolve important questions and move the product closer to release.

A shorter path to market: resolve uncertainty early, make sound decisions, and reduce avoidable iterations and rework.

01 / Selected work

Real projects.
Measurable results.

The challenges I took on, the decisions I owned, and the results for the business.

Techpilot · 2019–2021
20×
Faster RFQ processing

Modernising a critical manufacturing workflow.

A complex request-for-quotation workflow needed modernising. I started with a lean implementation of that critical workflow, then re-architected the frontend for modular delivery.

My role & approach

Role: Lead Software Engineer / Tech Lead Frontend at Techpilot / DynamicMarkets GmbH.

I started with a lean version of the platform's most complex workflow, introduced a micro-frontend architecture, and worked with CTO and COO stakeholders to align the technical direction with business priorities.

Result: RFQ processing time reduced by a factor of 20.

TypeScript · React · Redux · Micro-frontends

European grocery retail · 2021–2024
90%+
Reduction in checkout time

Taking AI checkout from pilot to production.

Taking a computer-vision checkout pilot into production required coordinated delivery across software, devices, and external teams. I led engineering and established the integration and release approach.

My role & approach

Role: Lead Software Engineer / Tech Lead for a major European grocery retail group, via Reply Germany.

I architected the platform, built a virtual-store simulator, and established integration contracts, release cadences, and rollout readiness criteria across teams.

Result: A rollout from a single-store pilot to multiple stores and countries. The solution received the RETA 2023 award for Best AI & Robotics.

Computer vision · Node.js · React · Azure · Kubernetes

Siemens AG · 2015–2017
6×
Faster data integration

Making enterprise risk data easier to work with.

Complex Excel-based reporting made cross-division risk data difficult to manage. I replaced those workflows with version-controlled dashboards and automated data integration.

My role & approach

Role: Senior Consultant at Siemens AG, via Pentland Firth Software GmbH.

I led the data engineering and BI transformation, automated migration of Excel logic into QlikView, and introduced parallel delivery pipelines for the programme.

Result: Sixfold improvement in data integration speed, supporting cross-division risk analytics.

QlikView · Data engineering · ETL · Risk analytics

4 → 30 engineers · Levi9 R&D centre 18% → 94% review coverage · EDEKA / EasyShopper 13 months to production · AI retail platform

02 / AI in practice

AI connected to real business data.

Founder & principal engineer

Vexnor

A pre-release platform that turns database schemas and business context into AI-native data applications. Operational data and query execution stay in the customer's environment.

Open-source data framework

I also maintain the Apache-2.0 data framework behind this work. It gives applications and AI services a type-safe, governed route to operational data. Its MCP integration lets agents discover approved schemas and compose bounded read-only queries, with support for PostgreSQL, SQL Server, SQLite, and DuckDB.

03 / Working together

The right level of support.
Hands-on from the start.

AI integration, hands-on implementation, and technical leadership to move your product forward.

AI integration & product engineering

Make AI useful inside your product.

I connect AI services to your applications and business data: assistants, retrieval-augmented search, and workflow automation, with explicit permissions and validation.

A good fit: a team turning an AI prototype into a dependable feature, or adding AI to an existing application.

Discuss AI integration
Embedded tech lead

Get a complex project moving.

I join your team to own technical decisions, align the people involved, and move delivery forward—from architecture through implementation and rollout.

A good fit: a complex programme that needs an experienced, hands-on technical lead.

Discuss technical leadership
Senior / principal engineer

Solve a hard engineering problem.

I take ownership of difficult engineering work: modernising an existing platform, building a critical feature, or connecting applications, data, and infrastructure.

A good fit: a team that needs senior delivery capacity and clear communication.

Discuss engineering support
Fractional CTO

Make confident technical decisions.

I help define your technical direction, shape the delivery model, and support engineering decisions at the leadership table—with a practical path to handover.

A good fit: a startup or growing company that needs technical leadership without a full-time CTO.

Discuss technical direction

AI-assisted development. Engineering judgment throughout.

I use AI to support implementation, investigation, and test generation. Clear specifications, human code review, and automated validation keep the work grounded in your requirements. The aim is faster progress with software your team can understand and maintain.

04 / About Adrian

An engineer who stays
close to the work.

20+ yearsBuilding softwareMunichGermanyEnglish & GermanWorking languages

I've worked across startups and large enterprises, building web, cloud, mobile, IoT, and desktop systems. My work combines architecture and technical leadership with writing and shipping production code.

That has included scaling an R&D centre, leading cross-functional programmes, and building platforms from the first implementation through rollout. Today, I also build Vexnor, an AI-native data application platform and open-source framework.

I bring a practical perspective to technical decisions: understand the problem, make the tradeoffs clear, and keep the team moving towards a working result.

View my LinkedIn profile ↗
TypeScriptJavaScriptReactNode.js.NETJavaPostgreSQLAzureGoogle CloudDockerDevOpsAI integration
Explore my full career history

Work Experience

2026 – Present
Founder & Principal Engineer

Building a pre-release, AI-native data application platform that turns database schemas and business context into customer-controlled applications with governed metrics, dashboards, APIs, collaboration, and AI-assisted exploration. Designing and implementing the platform hands-on across TypeScript, React, Node.js, PostgreSQL, DuckDB, Docker, and cloud infrastructure.

Designed the platform so operational data and query execution remain in the customer's environment. Working with early customer design partners to validate real workflows, deployment requirements, and product direction.

FounderPrincipal EngineerAI-Native ApplicationsTypeScriptReactNode.jsPostgreSQLDuckDB
2025 – Present
Creator & Maintainer

Created and maintain an Apache-2.0, type-safe data framework designed to help existing applications integrate AI services with operational data through a governed interface. It combines schema-derived TypeScript models, typed CRUD, and real SQL with compile-time inference of results and required parameters.

Built isomorphic browser/server query execution without a separate endpoint for every query, portable contracts across TypeScript, .NET, and Go, and support for PostgreSQL, SQL Server, SQLite, and DuckDB. Its local MCP server lets AI agents discover approved schemas, resolve foreign-key paths, and compose bounded read-only queries without emitting SQL.

Open SourceApache-2.0MCPType-Safe SQLTypeScript.NETGoMulti-Database
Sep 2024 – Dec 2025
R&D Sabbatical — Other Independent Software Projects
Independent

Built NIFAM, an interactive web UI for the decisionSupport R package (FastAPI · Vue 3 · TypeScript · R/Plumber), using LLMs for model explanation, specification clarification, and user-facing guidance via RAG while retaining deterministic execution.

Prototyped a configurable IoT self-checkout system spanning kiosk client, backend services, and OTA pipelines, and implemented an unpublished real-time tactical puzzle game in PhaserJS with procedurally generated levels.

FastAPIVue 3TypeScriptRAGRIoTPhaserJS
2021 – 2024
Major European Grocery Retail Group, via Reply Germany
Lead Software Engineer / Tech Lead

Architected and led delivery of a frictionless, computer-vision-based IoT checkout platform, initially piloted in a single store and progressively scaled to multiple stores and countries. Delivered an award-winning AI-powered retail solution (RETA Award 2023 — Best AI & Robotics), reducing checkout time by 90%+.

Built a production-grade virtual store and customer-journey simulator enabling any team member or executive to simulate real customer behaviour, providing continuous visibility into system maturity. Orchestrated cross-functional delivery across backend, frontend, mobile, IoT, UX, BI, QA, and external vendors by establishing clear integration contracts, release cadences, and rollout readiness criteria.

Computer VisionIoTAzureNode.jsReactKubernetesTerraform
2021
HelloCoins Crypto Exchange
Tech Lead Full Stack

Stabilised HelloCoins.com crypto exchange with a 6-engineer remote team. Set up Node.js · React · MongoDB stack, CI/CD pipelines, and agile delivery. Facilitated collaboration across engineering functions and aligned delivery milestones with product and business expectations.

Node.jsReactMongoDBCI/CDKanban
2019 – 2021
Techpilot / DynamicMarkets GmbH
Lead Software Engineer / Tech Lead Frontend

Initiated modernisation by rebuilding the core RFQ workflow as a lean MVP — the system's most complex and business-critical feature — after earlier freelance attempts failed. Re-architected Europe's largest manufacturing sourcing platform with micro-frontends (TypeScript, React, Redux, Material-UI) for better modularity and team autonomy.

Reduced RFQ processing time by 20×. Collaborated closely with CTO/COO-level stakeholders, aligning technical direction with business priorities and ensuring consistent delivery across engineering and product teams.

ReactReduxTypeScriptMaterial-UIMicro-frontendsNode.jsBitBucket CI/CD
2020 – 2021
ioP2P, Lisbon / Munich
Technical Co-founder

Architected a private pricing platform turning brand communities into micro-influencers. Integrated Shopify API and headless CMS to automate product onboarding, pricing sync, and order management.

Node.jsTypeScriptReactGraphQLMongoDBPostgreSQLAzureShopify
2019
Raskenlund AS, Norway
Partner Consultant, Architect

Delivered autoscaling live/VOD streaming platforms on GCP with Node.js micro-services and Wowza servers for Limelight Music (US) and Digita Oy (Finland).

GCPNode.jsWowzaMicroservicesVarnishStreaming
2015 – 2019
EDEKA / EasyShopper, via Pentland Firth Software GmbH
Senior Consultant

Led design and development of a fraud-detection and customer-risk system for IoT self-scanning carts. Coordinated a cross-functional Agile team across business, UX, and engineering.

Raised review rate for active customers from 18% to 94% in under 3 months. Standardised release and deployment management and implemented an OTA (over-the-air) IoT deployment system. Delivered on Azure · Node.js · React · .NET Core · C# · MongoDB · SQL Server.

IoTAzureNode.jsReact.NET CoreC#MongoDBOTA
2015 – 2017
Siemens AG, via Pentland Firth Software GmbH
Senior Consultant

Led multi-division data engineering and BI transformation for enterprise risk reporting, migrating complex Excel-based workflows into scalable, version-controlled QlikView dashboards.

Automated Excel-to-QlikView logic migration, improving data integration speed by 6× and enabling cross-division analytics. Implemented parallel Kanban pipelines and DevOps processes to enhance efficiency in a complex, multi-division environment.

QlikViewBIData EngineeringKanbanDevOpsETL
2015
Third Wave Cafe, Melbourne (remote)
Full-Stack Developer & Architect — End-to-End Delivery

Designed and built an IoT solution integrating commodity GSM/Android thermal printers with a centralised ERP for a chain of cafes in Melbourne — connecting order taking, kitchen, and delivery operations end-to-end. Sole architect, developer, and delivery owner.

IoTGSMAndroidERPNode.js
2014 – 2015
Dracoon GmbH, Munich
Senior Software Developer

Architected and developed a consumer-facing SaaS extension for the Dracoon secure file-sharing ecosystem, enabling simplified document sharing via dynamically generated QR codes.

.NETC#ASP.NETSaaSSecure Sharing
2014 – 2015
Confidentium, Munich
Co-founder (Stealth Start-up)

Co-founded a stealth-mode security start-up in Munich.

Start-upSecurity
2011 – 2014
Brainloop AG, Munich
Senior Software Developer

Architected and developed the high-performance .NET/C#/ASP.NET API layer that integrated iPad and Windows desktop clients with Brainloop's core services, driving a 30% increase in customer acquisition upon market release. Delivered Client SDKs (.NET, Java, iOS/Xamarin) with libraries, code samples, and documentation.

.NETC#ASP.NETREST APISDKiOS/Xamarin
2008
Boom Marketing, Romania
Full-Stack Developer & Architect — End-to-End Delivery

Built a chatbot for automating sales conversions of an online marketing business. Sole architect, developer, and delivery owner.

ChatbotSales Automation.NET
2007 – 2011
Tech Lead Manager

Directed technical delivery and architecture of enterprise-scale nearshoring projects for major Dutch clients (Hyundai, Group M, Boskalis) using .NET/C#/ASP.NET.

Managed project budgets up to €2M and led cross-functional teams of 10+ engineers. Core team member that founded the Iasi R&D centre, growing it from 4 to 30 engineers.

For Boskalis, architected and led development of SOPRO — a complex SOA web system for managing soil processing activities worldwide, integrating SCADA, BizTalk orchestration, Active Directory, and SQL Server Reporting Services. Also delivered SOFLO — a soil flow registration and dynamic reporting system for Dutch government compliance. Both projects followed PRINCE2 with iterative Scrum, TDD, and CI on Team Foundation Server.

.NETC#ASP.NETPRINCE2NearshoringEnterprise
2007 – 2008
Ambra Jewelleries, Romania
Full-Stack Developer & Architect — End-to-End Delivery

Built an eCommerce solution for a handmade jewellery start-up. Sole architect, developer, and delivery owner.

eCommerce.NETASP.NET
2007
My Education, UK
Full-Stack Developer & Architect — End-to-End Delivery

Built a classroom management system for an education services start-up. Sole architect, developer, and delivery owner.

EducationSaaS.NETASP.NET
2006 – 2007
Neuro Software, Iași, Romania
Lead Developer

Lead developer role delivering software solutions for local and international clients.

.NETC#ASP.NET
2006
Churchill Networks, UK
Full-Stack Developer & Architect — End-to-End Delivery

Built a VoIP PIN sales management solution for a small telecom services provider. Sole architect, developer, and delivery owner.

VoIPTelecom.NETASP.NET
2005
22Plus Network, Iași, Romania
Software Developer

Early career software developer role.

.NETC#
See the full technology & skills profile

Stack & Skills

Full-spectrum technical expertise across modern engineering disciplines

AI-Integrated Product Engineering

Designing AI-enabled products and delivery workflows with explicit guardrails: AI service integration, schema-guided tools, MCP servers, RAG, spec-driven development, AI-supported test criteria, and deterministic validation — with human review and production-grade engineering throughout.

Frontend & Full-Stack

TypeScriptJavaScript (ES6+)ReactVueNext.jsReduxAngularJSMaterial-UIStyled ComponentsApollo Client/ServerShopifyHeadless CMSE-Commerce IntegrationsViteWebpacktRPCLinguiJSA11y

Backend & Data

Node.jsExpressFastifyFastAPI.NETASP.NET.NET CoreC#PythonRGoJavaC/C++PowerShellBashGraphQLgRPCRESTSOAPAzure Service BusKafkaServerlessPostgreSQLSQL ServerSQLiteDuckDBType-Safe SQLMongoDBRedisElasticsearchKibanaETL PipelinesQlikViewPower BICelonisSSISSSASSSRS

Cloud & DevOps

AzureAWSGCP / FirebaseKubernetesDockerTerraformHelmVagrantArgo CDGitHub ActionsAzure DevOpsGitLab CIApplication InsightsELKDevSecOpsShift-left Security

AI & LLM Integration

AI Service IntegrationMCP Server DevelopmentSchema-Guided AIBounded Agent ToolsRAGPrompt EngineeringAPI OrchestrationContext ManagementAI-Assisted SpecificationAI-Supported Test GenerationSpec-Driven Dev

Testing, Quality & Security

JestVitestPlaywrightCucumberxUnitSpockE2E TestingLoad TestingQA AutomationOWASP Top 10GDPR (DSGVO)ISO 27001Secure SDLCStatic AnalysisThreat ModelingVulnerability Management

Architecture & Delivery

System DesignMicroservicesEvent-Driven SystemsAPI DesignMicro-frontendsIaCCI/CDSaaS PlatformsAgile / Scrum / KanbanPRINCE2MVP → ScaleRapid PrototypingADRs / RFCs

Leadership & Collaboration

Stakeholder AlignmentCross-functional DeliveryTechnical Decision FacilitationMentoringKnowledge SharingDocumentationGitJiraConfluenceLean Delivery80/20 PlanningPredictable Delivery
Browse industry experience

Industries

Retail & IoT
EDEKA · Major Grocery Retail Group
Manufacturing & B2B
Techpilot — Europe's largest manufacturing sourcing platform
Enterprise Risk Management
Siemens AG — multi-division risk scoring & early warning, 7 divisions
Dredging & Environmental
Boskalis — soil lifecycle management, SCADA, global operations
Security & SaaS
Brainloop · Dracoon · Confidentium
Automotive
Hyundai.NL — full car sales platform
Fintech & Crypto
HelloCoins crypto exchange
E-Commerce & Social Commerce
ioP2P — private pricing & community-driven discounts
Media & Streaming
Limelight Music · Digita Oy (national TV broadcasting)
Data & AI Platforms
Vexnor — governed AI-native data apps · NIFAM — LLM-assisted decision support
Hospitality & E-Commerce
Third Wave Cafe · Ambra Jewelleries
Recognition · Microsoft Imagine Cup

Microsoft Imagine Cup 2005 — 1st Place, Web Development

Yokohama, Japan · Built a platform integrating AI, machine learning, neural networks, and fuzzy logic to bridge medical and IT fields.

Available for select freelance engagements

What are you working on?

In our first conversation, we'll establish whether I'm the right fit and identify a sensible starting scope.

Prefer another way? Open the form in a new tab ↗ or contact me on LinkedIn ↗.